Pirates promote controversial pitcher Domingo German, who threw perfect game last season

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of controversial right-handed pitcher Domingo German – who produced the most recent perfect game in major league history – before Friday’s game at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

German had a 31-28 record with a 4.41 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 112 games (89 starts) over six seasons with the New York Yankees. He was 5-7 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.08 ERA in 108⅔ innings over 20 games (19 starts) last season, when he threw the 24th perfect game in major league history. German recorded nine strikeouts in throwing 99 pitches in an 11-0 win over the Oakland A’s on June 28, 2023.

German missed the final two months of the season after voluntarily submitting to treatment for alcohol abuse following a clubhouse confrontation with Yankees manager Aaron Boone. German was placed on outright waivers on Nov. 2.

That was one of multiple incidents involving German, who was ejected for using an illegal substance last May 16, which drew a 10-game suspension that he declined to appeal.

His best season was in 2019, when he went 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 143 innings over 27 appearances (24 starts) before being placed on leave pending an investigation of suspected domestic violence for an incident involving a girlfriend that September. German served an 81-game suspension, missing the rest of the regular season and the postseason and all of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The 32-year-old German was 6-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 68 innings over 13 starts with Indianapolis this season. He was released on July 16, when he opted out of his one-year, $1.5 million contract, but re-signed with the Pirates five days later. He had another opt-out clause due on Friday.

To make room for German on the active roster, the Pirates optioned righty reliever Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man roster, they designated for assignment lefty reliever Josh Walker, who was acquired from the New York Mets at the July 30 trade deadline in a trade for pitcher Nicolas Carreno.